WILDLIFE SERIES: SAND TIGER SHARK

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. On this final cover of the series the spotlight is on the mouth and teeth of the sand tiger shark. Unlike human teeth, which contain only hydroxyapatite, shark teeth contain the mineral fluoroapatite (fluorinated calcium phosphate). In addition to the unique structure of their teeth, which enables them to tear or cut the flesh of their prey, sharks also have more than one row of teeth and are able to replace them several times in their lifetime. Some sharks shed approximately 35,000 teeth in the course of their lives.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: AFRICAN LIONESS

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. An African lioness roars on this issue’s cover. While a lioness such as this one has very sharp teeth, prey are usually killed by strangulation. Altogether, lions have 30 teeth: four canines used to hold and puncture, four carnassial teeth to cut tough skin and meat, and the remainder are conical for cutting and tearing.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: NILE CROCODILE

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. The toothy-grin of the Nile crocodile is featured on this issue's cover. Crocodiles have 64-68 conical teeth. Crocodiles replace their teeth regularly and a single crocodile can go through at least 3,000 teeth in its lifetime; though the replacement rate slows significantly with age.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: AFRICAN PENGUIN

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. An open-mouthed African penguin appears on this issue of the journal. This image clearly shows the penguin’s rearward-pointing, tooth-like barbs, found on both the tongue and roof of the mouth. These are not used for chewing, but instead assist in the swallowing of their slipperyprey. In penguins, as in all other birds, the genes expressing teeth are quiescent. Penguin chicks do have an egg tooth; however, this is not a real tooth, but rather a sharp bump on the top surface of the bill which is used to break the egg when hatching.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

WILDLIFE SERIES: RING-TAILED LEMURS

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. Ring-tailed lemurs grace the cover of this issue of the journal. On each side of the jaw ring-tailed lemurs have two incisors, one canine tooth, three premolars, and three molar teeth on each side of the jaw. Their incisors and canines together form a toothcomb structure used during oral grooming, which involves licking and tooth-scraping. It may also be used for grasping small fruits and removing leaves from the stem when eating. The toothcomb is kept clean using a sublingual organ: a thin, flat, fibrous plate that covers a large part of the base of the tongue.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: CHEETAH CUB

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. The cover of this issue depicts a young cheetah cub. Unlike other cats, the cheetah has a weak jaw and small teeth - perhaps the price it paid for speed. Although cheetah cubs are blind and completely helpless at birth, they develop rapidly and at 3 weeks their teeth break through their gums. The cubs grow rapidly and at 8 months old, they have lost the last of their deciduous teeth.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: GHARIAL

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. The cover of this issue depicts a crocodilian native to the Indian subcontinent, the gharial. Gharials' jaws are lined with many interlocking, razor-sharp teeth — 27 to 29 upper and 25 or 26 lower teeth on each side. The front teeth are the largest. Gharials are listed as 'critically endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: POLAR BEARS

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. The cover of this issue depicts polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Healthy adult polar bears have 42 razor sharp teeth reflecting their highly carnivorous diet. They are the largest living land carnivores and are classed as 'vulnerable animals' by the WWF.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: HARRIS HAWK

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. An open-mouthed Harris hawk with distinctive hooked beak is presented on this issue’s cover. This North American bird is the only member of its genus, Parabuteo unicinctus. Birds have no teeth.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: HIPPOPOTAMI

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. This issue's cover shows two hippopotami in fighting form. The lower canines of the hippopotamus can be up to 70 cm long and weigh up to 4 kg. Hippo teeth are made of the hardest enamel in the world (6-7 on the Mohs scale). No other animal on the planet has such hard teeth.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: WHITE BENGAL TIGER

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. This issue's cover demonstrates the mighty canines of the white Bengal tiger. Tigers possess the largest canines of all the big cats.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey

WILDLIFE SERIES: BELUGA WHALE

The cover images in volume 213 of the journal all feature mouths and teeth from different members of the animal kingdom. This issue's cover shows a beautiful beluga whale being fed a fish.

Photograph by Sharif Islam

www.slickpic.com/u/AlphaWhiskey